Since its inception in 2007, Earth Hour has brought together millions of people from over 190 countries worldwide to act against the environmental challenges our planet faces. The unique and the most efficient part of the global campaign is that it allows all individuals to act in nature positive ways individually and in groups, symbolized by the simple act of switching off lights for an hour, has inspired generations to prioritize environmental stewardship. 

Led by WWF-Bhutan and the partners - Royal Thimphu College’s Education For Nature Society, Tashiyangtse Nature Club, Samtse Lower Secondary School, Bhutan Football Federation, M-Studio, the Earth Hour 2025 campaign contributed close to 7,000 Hours for the Earth.

The month-long campaign included organizing events involving youth groups, local influencers, local conservation organization and not-for-profit organizations to inspire nature positive actions, divided across different themes of arts and creativity, fitness and wellness, sustainability, and conservation education, encouraging partners and supporters to “Give an hour for Earth.” 

Together with our partners, our Earth Hour campaign engaged over 1,550 youth and officials from over ten different districts in Bhutan. Through various events we worked with ten different partners in one month.

Here is brief highlight of Earth Hour 2025 campaign:

Location: Thimphu

Time: 11-16 March

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUS WALK FOR MINDFUL LIVING

The Royal Thimphu College Education for Nature Program (RTC EFN), a youth-based club supported by WWF organized an event to help youth reflect on environmental habits through an interactive activity called the Environmental Conscious Power Walk. The self-awareness exercise helped the young students recognize how their daily actions impact the environment and identify areas for improvement.

Over the course a week, 40 students and staff from four colleges participated in the power walk. The students were from Royal Thimphu College, Gyelpozhing College of information Technology, Pangrizampa Astrology College and Royal Institute of Tourism and Hospitality.

Location: Tashiyangtse

Time: 16 March

Birdwatching trip at the largest RAMSAR site in Tashiyangtse

As part of the Earth Hour 2025 campaign, Tashiyangtse Nature Club, one of the Young Bhutanese Birders (YBB) club members organized a day-long birding hike to Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary. With its gentle terrain, the children were able to enjoy the hike amid blossoming spring flowers. Children recorded 30 different bird species during the trip and were excited to spot the “ Ferruginous duck” a near threatened species for the first time.

Young Bhutanese Birders is a youth bird-watching program initiated by WWF-Bhutan in 2016 to encourage children to connect to nature. The Nature Club also organized art and essay competitions among students as part of the Earth Hour event.

Location: Samtse

Time: 22 March

Debate based on the Living Planet Report 2024 findings

In partnership with Samtse Lower Secondary School, a debate competition based on the findings from the Living Planet Report 2024 was organized to educate the youth on the importance of biodiversity conservation. The event was also aimed at reviving and maintaining a continued partnership with YBB clubs in Bhutan.

Ten students, who were divided into two groups, discussed climate change as the biggest threats to bird population. A group of four-member team supported climate change as the biggest threats to bird population while the other group debated that there are other bigger threats.

Over 600 students and teachers from Samtse LSS were engaged at the event.

Location: Thimphu

Time: March 22

RTC EFN Society organized an Eco Hackathon event, inviting students from four schools in Thimphu, Paro and Wangdue Phodrang. The students were assigned to present practical solutions to rising illegal dumping in Thimphu thromde (municipality), which is one of the threats to rivers in the city.

Fifty students and staffs from the Royal Thimphu Club, and representative from Royal Society for Protection of Nature and WWF-Bhutan witnessed in the event. Four different solutions to illegal waste dumping were presented to the judges.

Location: Thimphu

Time: 22 March

High Conservation Values Football Championship

WWF-Bhutan in collaboration with Bhutan Football Federation organized a day-long football championship to create awareness on High Conservation Values (HCV) and to promote nature stewardship and education among the young football enthusiasts. The event aimed to highlight the importance of Earth Hour and enhance visibility on HCV concepts.

Over 70 students and officials from WWF-Bhutan, BFF and Tarayana Foundation participated in the event. The highlight of the event was the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources gracing the final-kick-off as the chief guest and engaging in the fun events. The Minister also highlighted the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and the role of youth in nation building.

A total of 30 students divided into six different teams, named after six HCV categories, participated in the football championship. The HCV 3 team - Ecosystem and Habitat won the championship.

Location: Thimphu

Date: 22 March

Symbolic switch-off at Memorial Chorten

After a month of activities, events and online campaign, the Earth Hour was observed at the Memorial Chorten, in a contemplative and tranquil setting by lighting butter lamps of offering prayers for world peace. This was followed by a symbolic 20-minute lights off. The event was organized by WWF-Bhutan in partnership with the Central Monastic Body.

The Memorial Chorten was also the location for a LIVE Earth Hour discussion on TikTok from starting from 8:30pm. The LIVE event was joined by social media influencers which included M-Studio, the studio behind Bhutan’s Earth Hour song, and recipient of the National Order of Merit (Silver) for their transformative impact on Bhutanese music and culture. The hour-long event garnered 3,000 views, as the host and guests discussed Earth Hour, the events that were organized and what it means to contribute an hour for the earth. The winner of the Earth Hour TikTok challenge was also announced during the event. Over 500 participants participated in the challenge by posting videos of various nature-positive engagements.

Review writing competition to inspire understanding of the faith and conservation nexus

Before the Earth Hour celebration day on 22 March, we announced a review writing competition on a documentary film - Sacred Tigers. The event was aimed at promoting faith and stewardship work at WWF-Bhutan. The challenge received 38 entries from foresters, teachers, journalists, and school and college students. Two winners were declared at the end of the challenge.

Outside of the events led by WWF-Bhutan, many heartwarming activities were initiated by schools and students that involved planting trees, cleaning campaigns, tree hugging contests, and river and stream cleaning campaignsn were organized to celebrate Earth Hour 2025. We would like to offer our sincere appreciations and gratitude to all who joined people across the globe to observe Earth Hour 2025.

Globally, close to 3 millions hours were dedicated to earth as part of the campaign.